Attorneys for a man accused of killing four women at Atlanta massage businesses asked a judge not to let a jury hear statements he made after his arrest.

(AP Photo/Candice Choi)WASHINGTON – Federal investigators have so far not found evidence that clears the high bar for federal hate crime charges against a man who has been accused of killing eight people at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. Seven of the eight people killed were women; six were of Asian descent. The crime has stitched together stigmas about race, gender, migrant work and sex work. Though investigators have not ruled out ultimately filing hate crime charges, they face legal constraints in doing so. To successfully prosecute a hate crimes case, prosecutors typically seek tangible evidence, such as the suspect expressing racism in text messages, in internet posts or to witnesses.

(AP Photo/Candice Choi)WASHINGTON – Federal investigators have so far not found evidence that clears the high bar for federal hate crime charges against a man who has been accused of killing eight people at three Atlanta-area massage businesses, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press on Friday. Seven of the eight people killed were women; six were of Asian descent. The crime has stitched together stigmas about race, gender, migrant work and sex work. Though investigators have not ruled out ultimately filing hate crime charges, they face legal constraints in doing so. To successfully prosecute a hate crimes case, prosecutors typically seek tangible evidence, such as the suspect expressing racism in text messages, in internet posts or to witnesses.

“From what I understand, he was at the spa that day doing some work for them,” said Michels’ younger brother, John Michels of Commerce, Michigan. You get to a point where you get tired of climbing up and down ladders,” John Michels said. Though they were born 2 1/2 years apart, “he was basically my twin,” John Michels said. “He was a good, hard-working man who would do what he could do to help people,” John Michels said. “I just don’t understand why he took my daughter.”___This story has been edited to correct the name of Youngs Asian Massage.